Your feelings are more important, of course
I'm updating this LiveJournal, yay! I can actually do it.
So, I've seen quite a lot of films lately, for a change.
I'm keeping my film reviews for my blog --you will soon get the reviews for The Road, Vincere, A Christmas Carol, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, 2012, The Box...
In the meantime, I've decided I can drop a few words on films I've seen in DVD/telly (rare occurence though) :)
The Departed, directed by Martin Scorsese
Hadn't seen this one in phew, ages! I remember being so thrilled about it when it came out. It's because it is, the most thrilling kind of films.
I'd completely forgotten about the incredible shoot-out during the third act. Most of the scenes that stuck with me were the ones where Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio) chased Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon), or the other way around. But THAT SCENE! It's mindblowing. Scorsese really outdid himself on that one. The shots are absolutely brillant.
But The Departed isn't just a Martin Scoresese showcase, it's also a brillant screenplay and solid, solid performances from every single actor. And Mark Wahlberg really, who deserves to be singled out because he's such a fantastically offensive character in this film. Wahlberg has had the most unconventional career, and despite a nearly spotless filmography, he's never been taken very seriously in the industry. Well he is now for certain.
So basically The Departed has a winning formula: venerated director at the top of his game + pretty insane screenplay + memorable actors and supporting roles.
Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging, directed by Gurinder Chadha
YES I KNOW. Let me explain myself.
I've always loved Louise Rennison's books, The Confessions of Georgia Nicholson. It doesn't have a Wiki entry. GASP! The author has one though. There's also an official website. I started reading them ages ago, when I was annoyed and desperate with boys young and innocent. In any case, it's one of those very girly but oh-so-endearing, diaries-like books. And they made a film out of it. So...
Good-looking teenagers from WASP background = check.
Main character narrating = check.
Pseudo-pop/rock songs for target audience = check.
Making England look cool = well, just Eastbourne then because England as I know it is shit!
But the movie is very average to be honest. It's barely enjoyable, unlike the books. There isn't a single thing in it that hasn't been done before. And why should there? It's a pretty straightforward story to tell, girl chasing boy. But the books were funny at least.
They haven't messed up the characters; Georgia isn't obnoxious, which is something short of a miracle considering how bratty she is. So that's one good thing I guess.
But in terms of film as such, it's dreadful. Nothing original, that's the worst. And an ending by the numbers. So all in all: boring. There was a lot of eye-rolling involved when I watched it.
It's too bad because the books aren't that awful really.
C.R.A.Z.Y., directed by Jean-Marc Vallée
This film has been one of my favourite ones ever since it came out! Who knew Québec could be so cool?
Okay, so C.R.A.Z.Y. tells this incredibly coming-of-age story. It's the story of Zack, from the very night he was born until his twenties or so. The film mostly focuses on the relationship with his parents and the rest of his family (four brothers), but mostly with the ardous and terrible thing called growing up. And in the seventies, it's a pretty special story...
How very cliché, you might say. The film avoids every single one of them: the screenplay feels genuine. That's the key to its success I think. The father is a particularly well-written character; his behaviour, ambitions and desires are pretty much the same than any parent's. Pride, in a family of five boys, plays a prominent part --and it's almost heartbreaking to see Zack trying to find his way through that family, trying to find an identity that is so difficult to define. If there's one thing this film is about, it's difference; being different from the people in your own home, and the people outside of it. I think it's incredibly easy to relate to, because everyone can remember a time when they didn't fit in.
So I'd say this film is a must-see. It's family drama at its best, including the happy events, the unhappy ones and everything in between.
So that's it for now! Catch you all laters.
So, I've seen quite a lot of films lately, for a change.
I'm keeping my film reviews for my blog --you will soon get the reviews for The Road, Vincere, A Christmas Carol, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, 2012, The Box...
In the meantime, I've decided I can drop a few words on films I've seen in DVD/telly (rare occurence though) :)
The Departed, directed by Martin Scorsese
Hadn't seen this one in phew, ages! I remember being so thrilled about it when it came out. It's because it is, the most thrilling kind of films.
I'd completely forgotten about the incredible shoot-out during the third act. Most of the scenes that stuck with me were the ones where Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio) chased Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon), or the other way around. But THAT SCENE! It's mindblowing. Scorsese really outdid himself on that one. The shots are absolutely brillant.
But The Departed isn't just a Martin Scoresese showcase, it's also a brillant screenplay and solid, solid performances from every single actor. And Mark Wahlberg really, who deserves to be singled out because he's such a fantastically offensive character in this film. Wahlberg has had the most unconventional career, and despite a nearly spotless filmography, he's never been taken very seriously in the industry. Well he is now for certain.
So basically The Departed has a winning formula: venerated director at the top of his game + pretty insane screenplay + memorable actors and supporting roles.
Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging, directed by Gurinder Chadha
YES I KNOW. Let me explain myself.
I've always loved Louise Rennison's books, The Confessions of Georgia Nicholson. It doesn't have a Wiki entry. GASP! The author has one though. There's also an official website. I started reading them ages ago, when I was annoyed and desperate with boys young and innocent. In any case, it's one of those very girly but oh-so-endearing, diaries-like books. And they made a film out of it. So...
Good-looking teenagers from WASP background = check.
Main character narrating = check.
Pseudo-pop/rock songs for target audience = check.
Making England look cool = well, just Eastbourne then because England as I know it is shit!
But the movie is very average to be honest. It's barely enjoyable, unlike the books. There isn't a single thing in it that hasn't been done before. And why should there? It's a pretty straightforward story to tell, girl chasing boy. But the books were funny at least.
They haven't messed up the characters; Georgia isn't obnoxious, which is something short of a miracle considering how bratty she is. So that's one good thing I guess.
But in terms of film as such, it's dreadful. Nothing original, that's the worst. And an ending by the numbers. So all in all: boring. There was a lot of eye-rolling involved when I watched it.
It's too bad because the books aren't that awful really.
C.R.A.Z.Y., directed by Jean-Marc Vallée
This film has been one of my favourite ones ever since it came out! Who knew Québec could be so cool?
Okay, so C.R.A.Z.Y. tells this incredibly coming-of-age story. It's the story of Zack, from the very night he was born until his twenties or so. The film mostly focuses on the relationship with his parents and the rest of his family (four brothers), but mostly with the ardous and terrible thing called growing up. And in the seventies, it's a pretty special story...
How very cliché, you might say. The film avoids every single one of them: the screenplay feels genuine. That's the key to its success I think. The father is a particularly well-written character; his behaviour, ambitions and desires are pretty much the same than any parent's. Pride, in a family of five boys, plays a prominent part --and it's almost heartbreaking to see Zack trying to find his way through that family, trying to find an identity that is so difficult to define. If there's one thing this film is about, it's difference; being different from the people in your own home, and the people outside of it. I think it's incredibly easy to relate to, because everyone can remember a time when they didn't fit in.
So I'd say this film is a must-see. It's family drama at its best, including the happy events, the unhappy ones and everything in between.
So that's it for now! Catch you all laters.